Time to Upgrade Your Cookware — Here's How to Get It Done

Elegantly designed and brightly colored, this Caraway Ceramic Nonstick Aluminum 12-Piece Cookware Set ($395) is both joy-sparking and practical. It includes a fry pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and Dutch oven — plus magnetic pan racks and a lid holder to keep everything organized. The nonstick ceramic interior surface prevents food from clinging to pots and pans, and the aluminum construction is oven safe to 550 degrees F. Oh, and whether you cook on gas, electric, or induction, these can handle it.

If you're serious about cooking but seriously lacking in square footage, this Calphalon Premier Space Saving Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set ($470) could be a very wise investment. Here's why: Calphalon is among the top-tier cookware makers, so the items in this set are designed to last for many years. (In other words, that cost-per-use factor is looking pretty good.) The nonstick coating is safe for metal utensils, and the cookware itself is oven safe to 450 degrees F. But here's the best part: the whole set is designed to stack and nest in any order, so you can save tons of space. Brilliant? Yeah, we thought so, too. N.B.: this set is not suitable for induction cooktops, in case you were wondering.

Do you love scouring pots and pans after preparing and eating a meal? Obviously, the answer is no — which is why this stylish GreenPan Rio Cookware Set ($150) is a smart choice. Not only do these pots and pans have a super-safe ceramic coating that allows food to just sliiiiiiiiide right off, they are also — wait for it — dishwasher safe. As in, you cook up some curry and let a machine do the hard work while you happily digest your meal.

Sure, this Rachael Ray Create Delicious Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set ($180) looks awfully cute — but stainless-steel construction means business. These pots and pans conduct heat evenly, which makes it easier to sauté and simmer (and way harder to burn and overcook). Suitable for all types of cooktops, the pots and pans are complemented by slotted wooden cooking utensils that will last for years.

Vintage inspired in style but fully modern in function, this Neoflam Retro Nonstick Ceramic 5-Piece Cookware Set ($130) makes a playful statement in the kitchen. Soft-touch handles create a more comfortable cooking grip, while nonstick ceramic coating makes cleaning easy — so you'll have more time to ponder big questions like, "Is pink the iconic color of the 1950s, 1980s, or 2010s?" Discuss.

The look of vintage hammered copper, the functionality of nonstick coating: yep, you get them both with this Gotham Steel Hammered Nonstick 10-Inch Aluminum Covered Fry Pan ($25). Its ceramic coating is reinforced with titanium, and because the base is stainless steel, you can use it on all stovetops (including induction). Who says you can't have it all?

Just on looks alone, the Granitestone Diamond Nonstick 14-Inch Frying Pan ($40) deserves a spot in your kitchen lineup. The classic shape, the speckled granite finish: it just looks good. But it also features a triple-layer nonstick coating (PFOA-, PTFE-, and PFOS-free, of course) and a riveted steel handle for extra durability. Pretty? Definitely, but it's also much more than that.

Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference — as is the case with this Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Steel 3-Quart Cook and Pour Saucepan With Lid ($50). Notice its subtle spout, which allows for mess-free pouring; check out the perforated lid for draining, too. These simple and smart details will make this saucepan stand out as your kitchen's new MVP.

For beauty and function, you really can't go wrong with Cuisinart Hammered Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set ($350). These pots and pans have an aluminum core encapsulated by two layers of stainless steel, which means they heat quickly and evenly — and have that professional-chef look to them as well.

How chic is this Staub 3.75 qt. Essential Dutch Oven ($200-$220)? Truly, it's the little black dress of your pots-and-pans lineup. The matte black enamel exterior is forever in style, the domed lid self-bastes the food below, and the cast-iron construction ensures even and consistent heat. Worth the investment? Without a doubt.